The high school diversity series continues this month with Oak Bluffs author Skip Finley. On Tuesday, Jan. 30 Mr. Finley will speak with Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School students in the morning, with a presentation to the Island community at 6 p.m.

Mr. Finley will speak about his upcoming book, Whaling Captains of Color. According to his research, between 20 and 40 per cent of whalers were black, and the danger and difficulty of the business produced the opportunity for 64 of them to become captains, even during the days of slavery and continuing through to the end of the industry.

The talk will focus on whaling as America’s first meritocracy and Martha’s Vineyard’s whaling captains of color.